Cable-connecter coupler



Feb. 24, 1931. 1.. H-. CHURCH 1 9 CABLE CONNECTER COUPLER Filed Jan. 15. 1927 INVENTOR giggfimv w Patented Feb. 24, 1931 1 1 1 7 3 333 1;

UntTED i1STATE-SnPATENT O'FFME,

, mw s m nuacn. ornmzmmmmw JERSEY, ASSIQHQB r THE THOMAS 1e BETSLS 1 C0-QOEZELZZABEIEHEW JEBSEXA Q ATI GEM-1W JEB1-SEX11 cABLn-connEeTER COUPLER Application-filed alanu ary is; 1927; Serial no. 1611,347 11 This1;inventionirelatesbroadly tocable 1 c0 n1- cut away1 1poi' tiomsuch1 as a slot, throu gh1-; neoters and "pipe couplers, .andJpa1 ticuIanly 1;which a shuttei oit the cableclainp plate ma 1 relates to coupling members for cable con ;1slide 1inadaptingitself todilierent sizes-ot nectens-whereby the-cable connecter 1nay itcable. 1 1 1 1 1 e selfibesattached eitherto a pipeorto anout 1 Tl1ese1 1and otheu objects; ofthe invention;

let box,1a-ncl llhave-for convenience called the and the means for their; attainment avillbe invention a cable 1c0 1 11ectencoupler.; 1 '1 more apparent 1 f1'o1n the following ,descrip 1 :object oftheinventionistoj :piyoduce a 1tion5 taken inconnection with theaocompanycable conneeterv coupler; adapted-to =be:co Ining drawings;illustrating an embodiment of ofbined-withya cable connecte ito ;renderj 1thewthe inventi n,in1which s1 1 1 1 connectenuniversal in use, 1i. e. to/makethe Figures 1 andQ ELIQ'VlGWS in sideelevationt 1 conneeter attacheithena pipe ora cable toe and end elevation, rcspectivel 5 b box or to make a connecte-n attach both theoonnecter ot'an adapter shuttertypetowhich cableiandipipe toa box; and it isanobjcot to the connectei' coupler, according to the pres- 15111at-tach a 1connecten11 to :either kindof box 1 ent invention, isapplicable. 1 u

1 Whethenof the kn0ck 0ut 0pening orthreaded 1 Figures 3 to 6 inclusive showan exanipleo'f neck typeofboze; 1 1 theycableconnectei: couple1'. 1 This11invention1 permits1the attachment- 0ft iFigureif is-1 21111 1;end.vieW 0f the connector; conduits oripipesforelectric vvires and cables 1couple1'1 looltingi irom the left in -Figure 1 51 11 ze toou-tlet boxes having}the 1 usual knockout 1 ,1 which shows theend which attaches to a ca-,1

openings or holes, with provision as by -the1-x bleconneoter use: "of a cableiiconnecter; -for1 fastening them Figure A is1 1a longitudinal,sectional view Wires proximate the opening of theibox The taken 1 on 1the line of Figure 3. invention also permits; the use ofcable con Figure 15 showsthe connecter coupler in, 1

2 i-necters with outlet-boxes of the kind in which side elevation. 1

thewireentrancesareiormedin the box by Figure 16 is1theg othei'1 -encl ;vie 1w-1-of the threadednecksordinarily'intendedto receive 1connectercoupleiglookingfromthe right in a threaded pipeendw 1 Figure 1 5 Which Sl1OWS tl1B 1 GE1Cl which 1 ,at Accord'ngto 1the present invention a cou-1 'taches to a pipe or1box1 neck- 1 golplin-gj1membfir or"1c0nnecter;1g0up1ep1 is1pro-;. Figure 7 is a longitudinalsectionalbox so;

videdhaving meanswto engagea ca b1e., c0n; 11assembly View showing a cable1.1c01111ecter 1 necter and means forzengagementwithapipe anchored in an electric outlet box andem: 1 couplingthreadedneok on:the Outlet box.1 ploying theconnecter couplerto attach 1 a More particularly, in connection :Wlllh explain-1 1 pipe containing a cable to thecable conablzgsible sleeve type connecters having-box hole; meter and hence to a box. 1 s5 1.

anchorage means such as grooves, 1the con Figure 8 is ancntsidebox assembly View necter coupler is formed'at-one end to lieand a transverse sectional vieviyon theline ceive the connecter sleeve endancl prefe1'a bl y-1-8-8 of Figure 7.

conform to the connecter box hole anch0rage 1 Figure 9 illustrates the use of the conmagroove for that purpose; While atthe0the1n1 necte1' coupler" anchoring a connector to an endtheconnectercoupler leg-formed Withan ;0utlet boxwherein the cable cntnance is 1 outwardly threaded fneck ot a 1gange equal to 1 formed in the .box by a threaded neck. 1 thatof the pipe with which a oableroonnecter 1 Figure 10 is a \lUW ofgthe connector cou1-1 is to be attached or ofa gaugeequalto that plei' attached to a 1cable1connecteir of the 45.9.;0f thewire entrance neckfon the outletbox. 1 plain sleevetype, i. withoutthe adapter The invention alsoseeks to permit the; use andshuttei' clamp platc. 1 1

of an adapter cable clamp plate of a shutter 11 Electric outlet boxes (l igure 71) are 1 1 type Withfcable conliecters-intliese situations. manufactured with knockout 1 openings 1 01' 1 To this end the connectercoupler, which may 1 holes 1H to receive cable G and to receive con- 1 fioletakejtheform ;ofa1 sleeve, isprovidedwith a necters which anchor the cableto the box 1B 110011 and electric wiring connections are made in- Outlet boxes EN (Figure use in electrical installation wherein, in lieu of knockout openings, the entrances .or box holes E for the wires are formed by 1nternally'threaded necks N. My invention also .makes it possible to anchor a connecter to this type of box.

in both instances, 1. e. with either type of box Bor'BN, my inventionirenders it possible to quickly attach a pipe to a box B not ordinarily designed toreceive a pipe, and f makes it possible to-anchor a connecter in a box not ordinarily designed to receive a con One and the same connector con-- necter. pler performs these two functions and others. One form of a cable connecter towhich the'present invention is applicable is 'a split 4 type sleeve connecter illustrated at 17 in f Figures land 2 and'may be formed of resilient metal, in sleeve form, having a box hole anchorage groove 19 proximate one or both ends, The ends of the stamping, from which i this connecter member17 is formed, come together to form a longitudinal split 2f) i-chorage groove 19 on the connecter sleeve17.

Thus the cable connecter sleeve 17 may be which permits the connecter member to be contracted, that is, its circumference re duced, for lnsertion to snap it into a box hole. H. Thebox hole edge is engaged, upon expansionof the connecter member17, within one of the grooves 19,]as shown n Figure 7,

to effect anchorage of the connecter member- 17 in a box hole. While a grooved sleeve type part 17 is shown, other forms of connecter'members'and box anchorage means therefor may be used.

The sleeve17 is adapted to receive a cable C. Within or upon this connecter may be mounted, if desired, an adapter cable clamp 24, whereof the ends are turned upwardly at substantially right angles to form sleeve or box hole shutters 25 The shutters 25'are of such dimensions as to close the end or ends of the sleeve 17, or that portion thereof un' occupied by the cable C, and close the box holegH against the admission of .dirt or plaster into the interior of the electric out-.-

let box 13; The shutters 25 alsoserve as positioning means to prevent axial displace ment of the cable clamp plate 24 and as guiding means therefor as it is manipulated toward or away from the cable C and with respect to operating means such as the screw 26, which is threaded through a hole tapped in the connecter member 17, to drive or force the clamp plate 24- against the cable C and 7 thus clamp the cable in the connector and in so doing simultaneously cause the expansionof the sleeve 17 to anchor the connecter in the box hole H. I have elsewhere 9) are also in L pling covered the above briefly described new and useful cable connecter'17.

I Coming now more particularly to'the present invention,in some situations, the cable C is conducted to an outlet box of either type B or EN through a conduit orpipe P, and provision is made to anchor the end of the pipe P to e1ther outlet box in addition to fas- 'tening the cable bythe connecter as just de scribed, or byany other connecter which'may stance, Figure'7, to'fasten the pipe P to box B. I 1

I The connecter coupler 28 takes th'e formof a sleeve whereof one end 29 is outwardly threaded and is of a diameter equal to the gauge of the pipe Pwhich is secured thereto by an ordinary pipe sleeve S.- The sleeve threaded neck 29 is designed to snap and cone nect onto a cable connecter -17 and'is of enend 31 of the connector coupler opposite to the larged diameter for that purpose and is formed radially inwardly with the annular shoulder 31 to engage with the boxholean contracted andinserted within the end 31 of the "connector coupler 28 1 and permittedto.

again expand to'engage the interior of the coupling member 28, the shoulder 31 thereof fitting'within the box hole anchorage groove 19 to'hold'the two parts 17 and'28 together in one assembled structure.

To avoid all interference of. operation of the adaptercableclamp 24-25, he to permit free movement of the shutters 25 thereof, the

tion 32 forming-an interior annular groove 32 sufficiently large to receive andv within which ashutter 2-5ofa cable connecter-may reciprocate, one part of the portion 32 bc-.

ing cut away to form peripherally extending 51013 34 through which the' shutter'25'may freely pass. a V

When a cable connecter is assembled with an outlet box B, with the box hole'anchorage groove 19 of the connector engaging the box hole edge H, its other or opposite end may be inserted' wltlnna coupling member 28 and opening or cut-away portion 34 of the connecter coupler.

The coupling member 28 secured as der a pipe P secured to the coupling member 28 of soft cable C scribed on a connocter 17 may also be availed of to secure the connector I? to an outlet box BN wherein the entrance E for the wires is defined by an interiorly threaded ncckN. In this instance, the threaded connector coupler neck 29, either before or after a connecter sleeve 17 has been inserted therein, may be screwed into the box neck N as shown in Figure 9 and a cable led to the box BN may be anchored by the adapter clamp plate outlet box EN whereof the wire entrance is defined by a pipe receiving neck N.

lVhat is of particular importance is the fact that this invention enablescable of any kind, metal armored, fibre arn'lored or soft cable, to be connected to eitherbox type B or EN. The cable C shown is what may be called soft cable and is now coming into use. It

ssmall in size and hence the shutter type of cable connecter 17 closes that part of the connector sleeve not occupied by the cable, but if larger size cable say metal armored -cable is used this connecter is just as applicable to the work because the adapter 24-25 moves out from the center of the sleeve to enlarge the sleeve passage.

However, it may be presumed that very large metal armored cable is to be connected witha box in some particular place and that the adapter is in the Way. In that event the adapterQet-QS is simply removed and the connector becomes an ordinary split sleeve screw expansible connector as in Figure 10 where a coupler 28 is shown attached to a plain connecter. In this situation Where metal armored cable, not shown, is used instead shown, the pipe P is not needed. It is perfectly clear that metal armored cable can be secured to either type box by one and the same connecter 17.

Likewise it is clear enough that frequently, in using soft cable C, run it through a pipe P. But in that event, a type of box B may already be installed or may be the onlv convenient box at hand and if it were not for my coupler member 28, the pipe P could not be readily attached 'to this box B and include a cable connecter at the same time.

Suppose again it is the type box BN with which the mechanic is confronted in his work and. that he desires to use soft cable concealed in a pipe P; he simply uses two couplers 28, one on each end of a connector 17, which is to say he uses two couplers 28 with a connecter therebetween. One coupler screw fasit may be desired, to

tenszintolthe' iboxneek N and the nccter screw fastens to a pipe.

The invention lends itself admirably 1 for use in connection with my improved shutter other contype cable connecterl'l' and thereby widens the range of that cable connector itself. Equipped with both-ofmy improvements in electnical fittings, i. e; with a supply of shutter connecters 17 and couplers 28, there are few if any cable and box assemblies that cannot be made on the spot and the contractor is therefore not required to loadhimself *up with many different kinds of connectors merely that all contingencies may be met. Tl'11S1l1V8lll31OIl meets them and wlth fewer partsand less expense.

.1. A couplingunember for a connecter h av ing a shuttered adapter cable clamp plate, said coupling member comprising a sleeve, meansat the sleeve end to receive an end of a connector member and at the other end a threaded neck, and a circumferential open ing in said membe to permitthe operation of an adapter cable clamp shutter.

2. A coupling member for a connector having an adapter cable clamp plate carrying a shutter, said coupling member comprising a sleeve having at oncend an outwardly threaded-neck and, at the other end, a connecter. receiving portion, said coupling memher being circumfcrentially slotted to permit the passage of a shutter throughthe couplerl Acoupling member fora sleeve type expansible connecterfm med with a box hole anchorage groove, said coupling member comprising a sleeve having at one end an outwardly threaded neck of reduced diameter and interiorly of the other end a shoulder to be engaged by thebox hole anchorage groove on the connector.

4. A coupling member for asleeve typo expansible connecter formed with a box hole anchorage groove and having a shuttered adapter cable clamp plate, said coupling member comprising a sleeve, means at the sleeve end interiorly formed to receive and conform to the box hole anchorage groove of a connecter member and a threaded neck at the other end of the sleeve, said sleeve having a circumferential opening to permit the operation of an adapter shutter.

5. A coupling member for a sleeve type expansible connecter formed with a box hole anchorage groove and having an adapter cable clamp plate carrying a shutter, said coupling member comprising a sleevehaving at one end an outwardly threaded neck of reduced diameter, and a shoulder interiorly of the other end to be engaged by the box hole anchorage groove, said sleeve being circumferentially slotted for the passage of a shutter.

6. A coupling member for a sleeve type expansible connector formed with a box hole grooved'for holding" the couplingmember in 4- Y r 1,793;s.se

anchorage groove and having, an adapter clamp plate and alshutter carried with sald V.

late said member com risin a sleeve havring air outwardly threaded neck of reduced diameter atone end and a shoulder interiorly of the other-end to be engaged by the boX hole anchorage groove, said sleeve being inwardly position and said grooved portion being circumferentially slotted-for the passage of a" shutter. v

.7; A- cable connecter coupler comprising, a sleeve member, one end of Which is reduced in sizeandgthreadedvto connect With a pipe oroboX neck, the other end thereof being enlarged in size to receive a cable connecter sleeve teleseoped With the first sleeve mem .ber and being further enlarged to receive movable connecter shutter, and a shutter slot being provided circumferentially in the larger portion'through which a shutter may movetransversely to the axis of the sleeve'member. I, V

8. A'coupling member for a sleeve type expansible connecter' formed 'With a box hole anchorage groove and having an adapter 'clamp plate and shutter carried With said plate, said member comprising a sleeve, a

' threaded neck at one end of said sleeve, a-

shoulder interiorly of :the other'end to be engaged by the box hole anchorage groove, a cut away portion 111 said sleeve for the move ment of a shutter; o

In testimony whereof I affix my, signature.

, LEWIS H. CHURCH. 

